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Can Parenthood Actually Change A Man's Brain?

First time father-of-one Joe Griffin describes how parenthood can change a man’s brain… for the better.

Metamorphosis is a dramatic word, isn’t it? The process of sudden and dramatic biological change sounds like the stuff of science fiction. Evolutionary leaps made by characters in superhero movies; icky transformation in horror films and books like The Fly; or some insect sprouting wings in a disgusting, but educational nature documentary.

But the truth is that our bodies are in a constant ebb and flow of change. Indeed, if we knew how much our brains changed throughout our lives, it would turn our hair white (another transformation!).

Fatherhood might not age us overnight, or give us superhuman strength (in fact, you might feel like your energy has sapped) but recent studies have taught us that our brains do change as soon as we become a dad.

Gently Does It

One of the biggest differences that fatherhood brings is an increased tenderness in day-to-day life. For many men (including myself) the presence and endless demands of a fragile, precious, living thing forces you to become more gentle and deliberate in your actions.

Testosterone Dips

It bears out hormonally too: a study in Northwestern University, Chicago, found that new dads go through a dip in testosterone. This flies in the face of traditional gender stereotypes, which for years assumed that fathers were not natural nurturers. In fact, testosterone drops occur most acutely in fathers of newborns (sometimes up to 30% over a year), and similar hormonal dips can also be found in men who work in childcare.

Reawakens Emotions & Memories

As a nice accompaniment to these hormonal changes, new dads can look forward to changes in brain activity. According to a study in University of North Carolina, for new fathers, the mere sight of their babies activated a network of prefrontal and subcortical brain regions. That’s right: previously dormant corners of your brain kick into gear when you see your precious bundle. These include increased activity in areas involved in emotional processing (amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex, or ACC), and memory and decision-making (the lateral pre-frontal cortex, or PFC). That study contradicted previously held beliefs that these changes only occurred in new mothers.

Reduces Anxiety

One of the most surprising aspects of fatherhood was how panic and anxiety diminished in the first few weeks. Yes, the fear and sense of epic responsibility were still there, but compared to the weeks before parenthood, we were less paralysed by analyses and indecision; generally we tended to get on with tasks at hand.

I used to think that this was because of the pace of parenthood. Everything happens at such a relentless velocity, that you barely have time to breath, let alone question your place in the universe and the latest parenting trends. But in fact, parenthood (for mothers and fathers) leads to reduced grey matter, specifically the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the left insula; commonly associated with anxiety.

Studies on the effects of fatherhood on the brain are still in their (ahem) infancy. Also, some of the findings above are based on small sample sizes. However, it’s heartening to know that biological changes in fatherhood are even being considered by academia. Based on what we know so far, nature helps a new dad rise to the great challenge of fatherhood.